What is 'the media'?
When people talk about the The tools for presenting, sharing and finding out information or data., they are referring to different ways of communicating information to a large number of people.
Watch - Explore the media and fake news
What is the media? Learn more about spotting fake news.
VOICEOVER: You may have heard the term ‘The Media’. But what’s it all about?
CHILD 1: The media is when news or information is shared.
CHILD 2: The media is something that helps people connect and also it helps people know what’s going on around them, what’s going on around the world.
CHILD 3: The media is when reporters or journalists report on news.
VOICEOVER: When we say ‘The Media’, we’re talking about different channels of communication that provide us with information or messages, like the news or programmes.
There are different types of media where we can get news or information from. Where do you get your information from?
CHILD 4: I get my information from the teachers.
CHILD 1: Newspapers.
CHILD 5: From the internet.
CHILD 3: Radio, TV.
VOICEOVER: Sometimes there can be so much information out there that it’s difficult to know what the facts are, and whether information we find is reliable or not. You might have heard of ‘fake news’ - something that can be a big problem.
What do you think ‘fake news' is?
CHILD 3: Fake news is when a reporter or journalist reports on news that may be inaccurate, not truthful and may be biased.
CHILD 1: Fake news can be published in many different ways. For example, memes, blogs, posts, videos and more.
VOICEOVER: Fake news is a type of ‘misinformation’, which is false or misleading information that could trick us into believing something that isn’t true. But how can we check whether something is real or whether we can trust what it’s saying? How can we combat misinformation?
CHILD 2: We should always check on different sources, if the same information is the same or not.
CHILD 5: If you think something is fake, you should never share it.
VOICEOVER: Finding fake news is just like being a detective! We have a right to access information but when you do research you need to check whether what you are reading or hearing is from a reliable or an unreliable source.
‘The Media’ is a powerful form of communication so learning how to identify real information over misinformation is a very useful skill, particularly online!
What can you do to help make sure the information you read or hear is reliable?
There are many different media types, such as newspapers and television that share information.
The information we receive can be misleading though. It's sometimes known as fake news.
When we read something, it can be up to us to use our detective skills to find out what's fake and what isn't.
How does the media present information?
The media communicates information to people all around the world. This is known as Different types of media technologies that are used to reach a large audience..
We can find out information through three main types of media:
- Print media - information which has been printed, such as newspapers and magazines
- Broadcast media - content distributed through television or radio
- Online media - information presented on websites, social media and apps.
Did you know?
The BBC launched its first television news programme in 1954.
This meant that people could see pictures of events happening around the world in their own homes for the first time.
How can we use the media?
Image caption, Newspapers
Newspapers are the oldest type of media and still continue to be printed every day in the UK. They are also now online! They give up-to-date information and aim to present all the facts.
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What is fake news?
Fake news is false or misleading information presented as real news.
Fake news could be in the form of fake headlines or misleading stories and information.
This can be a problem as it can lead to Misleading information that can trick people into believing something that is not true..
Sharing fake news can lead to problems such as poor communication, people trusting the news less or believing things that are not true.
How can we spot fake news?
How do we know that the information we pass on to other people is trustworthy?
In order to spot fake news, there are a few things you can check:
- Who wrote it? Perhaps it's an organisation you've not heard of before.
- When was it written?
- What is the article saying? Does some of the language seem strange?
- Are words spelt correctly?
- Are there any 'facts' that can't be found or proven somewhere else?
- Where did you find the article? Does website looks trustworthy?
- Why was it written? Could the writer want you to think in a particular way?
It is always a good idea to check anything before you share it with others.
What is free press?
In the UK, we have the right to a The media can express ideas or opinions without the government punishing the author..
This means that people who report the news are allowed to do their jobs without the government interfering or punishing them for what they report.
Free press is important because:
- it circulates information to everyone and allows discussion of important issues, including government decisions.
- by providing information on what the government is doing, people can be better informed when they vote for who they want to run the country.
Activities
Create a 'how-to' poster
Create a poster that gives them a guide on how to find information that's reliable.
Try to include the following in your poster:
- What some of the different media types are that can provide information
- What fake news is
- Why fake news is a problem
- Some top tips on spotting fake news
Quiz
Bitesize Summer Holiday pack - week 1
Join us this summer for weekly games, quizzes and inspiration for great activities like sunflower crafting, an alien creative writing challenge and a football-themed brain work out!
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